snowpit from Signal

Booted up to North Bowl to have a look and check on the condition of the persistant layer we've been dealing with and wanted to see what a lower elevation, cold aspect, and a thinner pack (I measured 80cm) looked like. The problem is alive and well. A stiff layered slab with a  large temperature gradient, supported by an eroding crust - over well developed, completely non cohesive faceted grains. The test block initiated and propogated on the 14tap with a sudden collapse and 2" planer shift forward. I was glad to be roped in - I looked longingly at the line, I thought about spatial variabilty - I did not ski.